Anybody out there convert from lap band to RNY? My band coming out Friday!

I have had a year of dashed hopes and misery. I had fevers every 2 weeks for 9 months, been to 4 ERs in pain, had 3 cat scans, tagged white blood cell count, endoscopy, and lost a grand total of 10 pounds in the past year. My port was removed 1/2/07: it was infected with staph aureas. We hoped everything would finally clear up; 5 weeks later, fever back with abdominal pain AGAIN. The whole system is coming out this Friday, my 3rd surgery. I am back on BP meds, diabetic meds, and now taking Byetta shots twice a day, and still have sleep apnea. I've kept off 51 pounds of weight, most lost prior to the band. Anyways, my days of being a bandster are done. It just wasn't meant for me. So now, I am researching RNY, the surgery I feared... I thought there would be lots of complications, but as you can see, I had lots of complications with the band. (They tell me in my surgeon's office I am the only one who has had this problem... great... I'm one in a thousand!) I plan on researching RNY with a more "open" mind now... I weigh 174 lb, but most importantly, I want to be healthy. Any encouragement out there for me? Thanks for listening! Donna

Hi Donna, You might want to check out the Revisions forum. Here is the link: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/ Best of luck to you! -Karen

Donna: Hello stranger! Sorry to hear of all your complications w/ the band, although you may be your surgeons only case, I can say the Band is not w/o complications as you point out, and that is good for others to hear/realize, actually in group we have had bandsters w/ complications, ports flipping, bands leaking, tube disconnection, tube causing bowel obstruction and band slippage causing pouch dilation needed removal and larger vanguard band replacements, in literature the complication ate nears 20% or something like that, I do not think u r 1 in a thousand but regardless sorry you are having these issues. Here is a site you may want to post to it is for people who had revisions or are from one surgery to another (I think there are a few who went band to rny then to DS! beleive it or not!) http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/WLSrevisionsupport/ I think thelast email I sent you bounced so I do not have a current email addy for you dear? If you need info email me off list you know I'll send you lots! Hugs Hope to see you at group if you get the chance as well! [email protected] You know I promote WLS whichever is right, take all the time you need to make the decision, as you know once that band comes out the risk of wt return is great! HUGS! Take Care, Jamie 100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY 320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/ "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Donna, I hope all the best of you hun.... I know for me RNY was the only way to go but you really need to research all so you can really understand what each is like. Please keep us posted and I wish all the best for you! Debra P

I had my band removed on 2/1/05. I had many problems. On 12/14/06 I had labroscopic bypass surgery and so far I love it. It's much more comfortable than the band, I know immediately when I'm full. I don't have any PBing and the weight just keeps coming off. I'm so glad I did it. Do some reasearch and keep an open mind. It could be right for you to.